January 18, 2010

Pat Robertson blames Haiti quake on 'pact with the devil'

Today's buzz on Twitter about the Rev. Pat Robertson seemed like a cruel hoax against the man who blamed America's sins for the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina.

But no. Robertson did indeed strike again today during his show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Calling for donations to CBN's disaster relief fund, he blamed Tuesday's 7.3 magnitude earthquake on the Haitians' "pact with the devil" two centuries ago while seeking liberation from the French. Take a look at the video.

So, why did so many missionaries, clergy and seminarians die on Tuesday? The Seeker is waiting on a call back from Rev. Robertson to find out.

I did reach the Rev. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. He appeared on Robertson's show more than a decade ago to promote his book "One Minute After You Die." Lutzer said not all evangelical Christians agree with Robertson.

"While it's true that all natural disasters reflect the fact that the earth is fallen as a result of sin, it is disingenuous for anyone to assume that one area of the world is being judged more harshly than another, because of natural disasters," he said. "For example it would be wrong for us to conclude that New Orleans was a city that was made more sinful than Las Vegas because one was victimized by a natural disaster and the other wasn’t."

Some say Robertson's comments appeal to a fan base that believes he hears God's voice and knows the divine mind. Lutzer said not all evangelical Christians believe that to be true. Many, like himself, stick to what the Bible says about God's mercy and forgiveness.

"At this time we should be offering the people of Haiti God’s forgiveness and mercy rather than condemning them for some decision made by their ancestors," Lutzer said. "It is much better for us to ask a different question: what can we do to help those who have been victimized by this terrible trauma, rather than to speak judgment upon them on behalf of God."

What do you think? Besides encouraging CBN fans to donate, how is this explanation helpful?

Comments

I wholeheartedly, 100% disagree with his comments. I usually support freedom of speech but not only is his opinion completely wrong, it is absolutely disgusting and could not have been said at a worse time, the day after it had happened, while people are still searching for their loved ones, still in shock, not even at the grieving stage yet. I just hope that his insensitive, horrible comments don't reach Haitians because they do not need to hear that rubbish right now (or at all in any case, but especially not now).
I am so angered by his comment, and the comments that always seem to come with disasters from extremist Christians like him who are just trying to shock people and rope people in to their ways by blaming tragic events on peoples past actions.
It wasn't due to the pact with the devil, it was the shifting of tectonic plates that created this large earthquake.

Dear Manya: Honestly I don't think Pat Robertson was through these comments trying to solicit donations to CBN. Although I'm sure he wouldn't turn any down. He was trying to provide historical context. Haiti did make a pact with "the devil" as he describes and for over 100 years, Voo Doo was the official religion of the island. If you are a believer in The Bible and that there is an evil principality "the devil" which I am, it makes you pause to consider the history. Why did Christians also die on Tuesday? Well, this is over simplistic answer to a very complex question: the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. God will not be mocked. Christians have been working in Haiti for many years to undo the damage of Voo Doo which is still in practice today. I have heard the drums playing at midnight myself and it is a very eery feeling to know that people within earshot were speaking curses onto others and asking for evil to move and work in their land. I am praying, as is Mr. Robertson, that what Satan meant for Evil, God can use for good through this terrible event.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged." "Before you pluck the dust mote from your brother's eye, take out the beam from your own."
If I were an evangelical Christian, Pat Robertson wouls be a huge embarrassment. I'll pray for him, that he may seek forgiveness for his judgment of the suffering of others.

Erm, this was caused by a natural (and catastrophic) event, that is, movement on a slip-strike fault. You know, geology, which I guess is one of those things that some Evangelical Christians don't believe in because it might disprove the 6,000 year old earth.

Not only that, if you're going to say Satan was involved, gee, can't you pin it on a more recent disaster in Haiti's history, such as a pact between the Duvaliers and the Devil? Unless, of course, by saying that, you're undermining your own cozying up and toadying to to various less than virtuous governmental leaders.

After watching the movie "Blood Diamonds" (about the horrid diamond-mining slavery practices in Africa and South America), and knowing that Pat Robertson owns one or more of those sort of mines, perhaps Bro. Pat's involvement in this sort of nefarious activity is linked to some description of a divine blessing, even though only in his bank account?

Laura, you must be quite old to remember when Haiti and the Devil shook hands, do you have photos perhaps? All religions, specifically those of African decent, that don't fall in basic Christianity, have been linked to devil worship. That's how the white man convinced many Africans to help enslave their own people. Haitians worship God just like any other human that believes in him. People always fear what they don't understand, so until you can mutter more than half of what you're saying in native Kreyol, don't waste your time. All history is flawed.

I think you need to really, really check your history. "Voo Doo" as you call it, apparently a bastardization of the term Voudon ("voodoo" is something Hollywood made up) is a traditional African religion brought over by slaves taken from West Africa.

It has NEVER been the official religion of Haiti. The country is a republic, and the vast majority of its population is Roman Catholic.

The only thing that DID take place 200 years ago was the Haitian Revolution in which Toussaint L'Overture led his countrymen in defeating colonial rule. It was the second nation in the west to do so (behind the United States).

Almost immediately, the United States and France began an economic blockade to the nation that resulted in it falling into desperate poverty, and political turmoil that has lasted to this day.

As an evangelical Christian, this is utterly embarrassing. Robertson's response is not the response we should have, and I think a majority of evangelical Christians would agree. It is contrary to the mercy we are called to provide. I'm sickened by his comments.

Suppose some Haitians made such a pact a long time ago. You cannot just point to that as the definite cause, unless you can see the entire causal chain.

A more real cause of their suffering is a lack of foreplanning and structural integrity -- suppose that quake hit the U.S.: we'd likely have far fewer problems, especially on the West Coast, because we are prepared for many of these things. There would probably be a great deal of property damage, but the casualties would likely be minimal.

I am an evangelical pastor. Pat Robertson is and has been a total embarrassment to me and, I believe, to any thinking Christian. He needs to shut his mouth and realize that only a very few misguided, mindless idiots take anything he says seriously. Somebody in his circle needs to yell, "The Emperor has no clothes". His spineless toadies are allowing him to get away with these egotistical, heartless comments. Since when does God whisper exclusively in his ear? He is no closer to God than anybody else and has no access to inside information as it relates to God. Actually, I think maybe God DOES speak to him. He is telling him to shut up and quit misrepresenting Him.

The most historically important Vodou ceremony in Haitian history was the Bwa Kayiman or Bois Caïman ceremony of August 1791 that began the Haitian Revolution, in which the spirit Ezili Dantor possessed a priestess and received a black pig as an offering, and all those present pledged themselves to the fight for freedom. This ceremony ultimately resulted in the liberation of the Haitian people from French colonial rule in 1804, and the establishment of the first black people's republic in the history of the world and the second independent nation in the Americas.

I'm an evangelical Christian and was linked to this article by a tweet by Albert Mohler. Mohler said he had just taken Robertson to task on a radio show. Mohler and Lutzer are representatives of what an evangelical Christian should be. Every day on his television show Robertson receives a "word" from God on who should receive healing for a particular disease. This is blasphemy, plain and simple.

It's people like Pat Robertson that give all Christians a bad name. Though, I hardly think he is deemed worthy to accept the title "Christian" as it means "Christ-like" and I hardly believe that Jesus would be publicly condemning a nation in crisis right now. He is a clear example of one of those people who run his mouth and try to push their own agendas by claiming them on the Bible when there is no basis for such claims. What a shame - he could be doing such good (like, for instance, raising money or praying FOR the country) and instead is acting like a self-righteous, ignorant fool.

For the sake of all God's people, do NOT send a penny to Pat Robertson. Talk about selling one's soul to the devil. Reputable Christian programs already on the ground in Haiti includes World Vision, Doctors without Borders, Red Cross and The American Haitian Foundation. I call on all Christians to ask their pastors to denounce the evil utterances of Pat Robertson.

Once again the cleric, Pat Robertson, has demonstrated that Pat Robertson's version of Christianity is the true ANTI-CHRIST. The perversion of a good man into a Golden Calf is perpetuated by the constant rubble of words that spews from the christian "pat robertson" clerics and these words have devilishly convinced good people to follow the ANTI-CHRIST.

You have to love the second opinion that the author brought into this article - the "voice of reason" of Erwin Lutzer who, to his credit, does contradict Roberston (+1). But what is his reasoning?
"While it's true that all natural disasters reflect the fact that the earth is fallen as a result of sin..."

HUH?

How about quoting the studies of the well-known seismic risk in Haiti? You say you want a true second opinion as counter-point to Robertson's ridiculous and groundless beliefs? Bring in a scientist - a seismologist with a fact-based explanation of what really happened, not another nut who just happens to not agree.

If you're a Christian how can you criticize Robinson? The bible you all claim to believe in is FULL of this type of thinking - and don't try to say it's just the Hebrew bible because it is indeed in both parts. This is just the logical extension of the religion you people say you believe in. I actually have more respect for the crazies like Robinson who just blindly believe it all than I do the "moderate" people who just pick and choose whatever parts of the religion suit them best at that time.

WOW! "The suffering is UNIMAGINABLE!!!" What and the suffering you have offered up by your hateful words of a pact with the devil isn't unimaginable and unconscionable. Maybe Pat Robertson and all his minions need to go back to college and learn about the physics of the earth and tectonic plates. What an utter jackass.

And I quote: "Honestly I don't think Pat Robertson was through these comments trying to solicit donations to CBN. Although I'm sure he wouldn't turn any down. He was trying to provide historical context. Haiti did make a pact with "the devil" as he describes and for over 100 years, Voo Doo was the official religion of the island."

How sad and unjustified to make comment about Voo Doo, one of the oldest religions on the planet as in any way shape or form earning the country of Haiti a 'pack with the devil' moniker. The narrow-minded commentary of Pat Robertson is disgusting. Lives have been devastated and this pitiful excuse for a man of God makes comments like these, and then you applaud his comments by making remarks that underline your limited, uninformed reaction to people who do things differently than you?